Intranet

An intranet is a local area network (LAN) used internally in an organization to facilitate communication and access to information that is sometimes access-restricted. Sometimes the term refers only to the most visible service, the internal web site. The same concepts and technologies of the Internet such as client (computing)s and servers running on the Internet protocol suite are used to build an intranet. HTTP and other internet protocols are commonly used as well, especially FTP and email. There is often an attempt to use internet technologies to provide new interfaces with corporate legacy data and information systems

There does not necessarily have to be any access from the organisation s internal network to the internet itself. Where there is, there will be a firewall (networking) with a gateway (telecommunications) through which all access takes place. Traffic going through the gateway can be monitored by the organisation s security department. This means that organisations that allow their staff internet access can normally determine which internet web sites are being viewed, block access to specific sites they don t want them to see (such as pornographic sex sites), and even trace offenders who persistently attempt to view them. They can also block certain types of web content (such as objects) which they consider a particular security risk.

Where external email access is provided, known sources of spam (electronic) and specific types of email attachment can be blocked by the organisation. It should also be noted that emails sent and received this way can be required to be produced by the organisation in the event of legal action against it by a third party.

Increasingly, Intranets are being used to deliver tools and applications, e.g., collaboration/sophisticated corporate directories, sales and CRM tools, project management, etc., to advance productivity.

Intranets are also being utilized as culture change platforms -- witness IBM s Jam program whereby large numbers of employees discuss key issues in online forums and key ideas are surfaced with the aid of text analysis tools.

Intranet traffic, like public-facing web site traffic, is better understood by using web metrics software to track overall activity, as well as through surveys of users. Intranet User Experience, Editorial, and Technology teams work together to produce in-house sites -- most commonly, Intranets are owned by either the Communications, HR or CIO areas of large organizations, or some combination of these three units.

2.Characteristics if Intranet

2.1. Typically, an intranet includes connections through one or more gateway computers to the outside Internet. The main purpose of an intranet is to share company information and computing resources among employees. An intranet can also be used to facilitate working in groups and for teleconferences.

2.2. An intranet uses TCP/IP, HTTP, and other Internet protocols just like the Internet and in general looks like a private version of the Internet. With tunneling, companies can send private messages through the public network, using the public network with special encryption/decryption and other security safeguards to connect one part of their intranet to another.

2.3. There does not necessarily have to be any access from the organizations internal network to the internet itself. Where there is, there will be a firewall with a gateway through which all access takes place. Traffic going through the gateway can be monitored. Firewall prevents outside computers anywhere on the Internet from accessing computers on the intranet.

2.4. In Intranet access to the informational stuffs and other Internet resources are blocked and only available to those users who are authorized.

2.5. In Intranet external email access is provided but known sources of spam and specific types of email attachment can be blocked by the organization for security purpose.

2.6. When part of an Intranet is made accessible to customers, partners, suppliers, or others outside the company, that part becomes part of an Extranet.

3. Advantages of Intranet:

3.1. Workforce Advantage: As organizations begin to use new systems for information processing and communicating, to help their employees to ensure their employability, companies could implement Intranets. If employees learn to use Intranets, they will have their command a working knowledge of how to use the most modern and exciting of technologies in every aspect of their work.

3.2. Timelines Advantage: With an Intranet, organizations can also provide information in the timeliest possible manner. This is done through the Intranet e-mail that allows employees to be able to communicate better. Through the Intranet e-mail, employees could be protected from information overload and this would lead to higher productivity.

3.3. Data Advantage: Companies maintain vast volumes of information in their databases, but most employees have no idea on how to access it. Intranets offer employees a simple-to-use interface that allows them to get the data within any database the organization wants to make available, anytime and from anywhere. This increases employees ability to perform their jobs faster, more accurately, and with confidence that they have the right information.

3.4. Communication Advantage: Intranet would serve as a powerful tool for communication of information within an organization. Employees can easily communicate with each other, send messages and can also do teleconferencing.

=See Also=

*i-concept *Extranet *Internet *web portal *LAN *WAN